22Dec14

China mulls national security law

A new national security draft law seeking to establish a comprehensive
safeguard system was put before China's top legislature on Monday.

The draft, aiming to "protect people's fundamental interests", stipulates that in
the management and handling of a national security crisis "measures that best
protect the rights and interests of citizens and organizations should be
chosen."

The first reading will take place during the bimonthly session of the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which runs from Monday
to Sunday.

Director of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing
Committee, Li Shishi, told lawmakers that "it was necessary to make a
comprehensive, overall and fundamental law on national security in
accordance with the new contemporary environment."

The draft defines "national security" as a condition in which a country's
government, sovereignty, unification, territorial integrity, well-being of its
people, sustainable and healthy development of its economy and society, and
other major interests are relatively safe and not subject to internal and external
threats. Good national security includes the capacity to safeguard and ensure
the sustainability of such a secure condition.

It stipulates that a national security safeguarding system should be established
and improved, so that it meets demand and is in accordance with economic
and social development. In addition, the capacity of protecting national security
should be continuously improved.

China's first National Security Law took effect in 1993 and primarily regulated
the work of the country's national security agencies, whose major duty is
counterespionage. As a result, the law was transformed into the
Counterespionage Law and was adopted by the top legislature on Nov. 1,
abolishing the National Security Law.

Last November, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of
China (CPC) Central Committee decided to establish a national security
commission.

The new draft seeks to put in place systems to manage laws and regulations,
finance, materials, science and technology, talent, working measures,
publications and education in support of the establishment and improvement
of national security.

It grants citizens and organizations the right to be protected by law when
supporting national security work, prioritization of compensation and pension,
the right to criticize, offer advice and appeal, and protection of freedom.

It also emphasizes that everyone shares in the duty to safeguard national
security.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who heads the commission, advocated an
"overall national security outlook" when chairing the commission's first meeting
in April.

He stressed that the challenges China faces in maintaining national security
today are more diverse than they have ever been, as it has seen complicated
internal and external situations.

[Source: Xinhua, Beijing, 22Dec14]

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